Overhead cableway system



y 2, 1929- J. H, DICIKINSON I 1.719.598

4m OVERHEAD CA\BLEWAY SYSTEM Filed June 15, 1927 Z-Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1N ENTOR.

i M "i J. H.-D|CKINSQN OVERHEAD CABLEWAY SYSTEM Filed June 5, 1927 2 Sheets- Sheet I EN 0R.

' ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 2, 1929.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. DICKINSON, or WINTER PARK, FLORIDA, 'ASSIGNOR T0 LIDGERWOOD MAN- UFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

OVERHEAD oABLEwAY SYSTEM.

Application filed June 15,

This invention relates to a novel-and improved cableway system particularly adapted for use where it is desired to reach ma terial to be handled which is situated in a valley or canyon. The invention will be Referring first to Fig. 1, my invention comprises a main cable 1, which is suitably secured to the head mast 2, and the tail mast 3. These masts may be any of the usual devices employed for the purpose, but are-herein shown as trunks of trees. Running on the main cable is a carriage which is shown herein as comprising a trolley section 4, provided with wheels 5, to engage the in respect to the trolley section, as by means of the lifting cable 7'which is shown as being secured at one'end to the tall mast and running over sheaves 8 on the trolley section, and a sheave 9 on the drop section of the carriage. The lifting cable is then passed over a sheave 10 onthe head mast and wound upon a drum 11 An outhaul cable 12, is connected to the drop section and is carried therefrom over a sheave 13 at the tail mast and thence over a sheave 14 on the head mast andwound upon drum 15. A skidding cable 16is wound upon a drum 17, and passes'over a sheave 18 upon the head mast and a second sheave 19 upon the dropsection of the carr age. he end of the skidding cable isprovided with a suitable working implement which is herein illustrated as a pair of tongs 20. for engagement with a log 21. It is to be understood that any other desired implement may be employed in place ofvthe tongs.

A slack pulling cable 22 is connected to the skidding cable and runs over a sheave 23 onthedrop sectionfi and thence over a able portion 34 on the drum. be understoodthat the drum 11 maybe op- 1927. Serial No. 198,930.

sheave 24 on the head mast and is wound upon a .drum' 25. This arrangement of skidding cable and slack pulling cable per the various drums as being mounted uponga suitable base 26 which also supports a boiler 27, for providing steam to an engine whose piston rod is shown at 28; It will be understood that any other motive power such as an electric motor maybe employed if found.

desirable. The engine is connected to a shaft 29 which through suitable gearing operates the shafts carrying the various drums.

It is common practice to provide. gearing which, will rotate the drums and it is also common practice to provide various clutches for engaging and disengaging the drums so that they may be rotated by the gearing or may run free. 1

.I have not deemed it necessary to show this mechanism as it is well known in the art and forms no part of this invention. It is sufficient to say'that the drums are provided with the usual means of operation.

In addition to the usual means of opera tion referred to above, the drum 1 1 has secured thereto a ratchet 30, cooperating with a pawl 31 pivoted upon the frame of the engine. The drum 11 is also provided with a suitable brake shown as a band 32, adapted to be operated by a foot pedal 33, the band 32 encircling and cooperating with a suit- It is also to erated in-the usual manner through gearing, and may also be operated independently of the other drums. 1 V

In operation, when a log 21 or the like is to be skidded towards the head mast, the carriage is run out upon the main cable by winding in'the outhaul cable and permitting the slack pulling cable and skidding cable to run free. When the carriage has reached a point above the log or other load 21, the operation is stopped in the usual manner and then the'lifting cable is permitted to pay out,

thus lowering the drop section of the :car-

riage by its own weight, into the canyonior valley. When it has been lowered to a point which is conveniently close to the log, the slack pulling cable may be operated in the usual manner to take up the slack in the skidding cable, and then tongs may be attached to the log. The lifting cable may then be wound in tolift the drop section of the carriage and raise the log to the desired height above the ground. The slack pulling cable and skidding cable are then wound in at the some time that the outhaul cable is permitted to pay out, and thus the log may be brought in to the head most. 01' if desired, the log; may be dragged in along the ground without raising the drop section of the carriage.

The above arrangement provides a flexible means for operating in rough country, particularly where the spanoi thecable is long and the depth of the valley is relatively great. ll here the span between the two masts is great, trouble has been experienced in' lowering the implement such as the tongs, to a place where the load is to be placed thereon.- Even with the use of the slack pulling cable, jit-has been ditiicultto take up the slack in the skidding cable bet-Weenthe head mast and the carriage. According to my invention, however, this diiliculty is over come by lowering a part of the carriage to the vicinity of the load. If necessary, the drop section of the carriage may be lowered as shown in Fig; l, to a position close to the ground, so that the skidding cable 16 will lie along the surface of the ground and thus may be more easily operated by the slack pulling cable 22. If desired, the log 21 or other load may then be dragged along the surface of the ground to the desired destination, or theload may be kept clear of the ground byraising the drop sectionof the carriage tothe requisite height. 1

The position of the carriage and particularly of the drop section, may be accurately controlled by operation of the pawl and ratchet or the brake, or by both together, will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In Fig. 2, there is shown a. modification of my invention and referring; thereto, it will be seen that this figure shows the main :able 1 and the head and tail mast 2 and 3, s inl ig. 1. However, the carriage is of in'htly' differentconstruction, in that the trolley section l is provided with only one sheave 8' through which passes the lifting cable 7. The crop section 6 of the carr iz je is provided with two sheaves 9, thror ,li which t 1e lifting cable )asses, and tluslrlb ing cable is secured to tire tail masttl andto the drum 11, in the-name manner 3 1.

Except as described above, the modificationo'f Fig. 2 operates in mani'ior identical vrith that described in connection with the embodiment of 1. The skidding; cable 16, slack pullimrcable 22'and outhaul cable :12, are arranged in the same manner, the

tail

skidding cable being connected to the tongs 20, whereby the log 21 may be handled in the same manner as that described above.

I claim:

1. In an overhead cableway system, a stationary main cable, a carriage running on said cable and comprising a drop section,

a sheave carried by said drop section, a skidding cable running over said sheave, means for. lowering said drop section respect to the rest of the carria e, and means for operating said skidding-cable. V

2. In'an overhead cableway. system, a sta tionary main cable, a carriage running on said cable and comprising a drop section, a skidding cable carried by said drop section, means for lowering said drop section in respect to the rest of the carriage, means for operating said skidding cable, and a slack pulling cable connected to. said skidding cable and to said drop section.

3. In an overhead ca-bleway. system, a stationary main cable, a carriage running on said cable and comprising a drop section, a sheave carried by said drop section, a skidding cable run; 'ng over saidsheave, means for lowering said dropsection inrespect to the rest. of the carriage, means for operating said skidding cable, and an outhaul cable connected to said drop section.

l. In an overhead cableway system, a stationary main cable, a carriage running on said cable and comprising a drop section, a skidding cable carried by said drop section, means for lowering said drop section in respect to the rest of the carriage, neans for operating said skidding cable, a slack pulling cable connected to said skidding cable and to said .drop section, and an outhaul cable also connected to said drop section.

5. In an overhead cableway system, ahead mastand a tail mast, a main cable stretched between said masts, a carriage having a trolley section running on said cable and a drop section, a lifting cable secured to said tail mast and running over sheaves on said sections and on said head mast, said drop section being supported. by said lifting cable, means to operate said cable to raise and lower said drop section in respect to saidtrolley section, a skidding cablecarriet by said drop section, and a slack pulling cable operatively connected to sa1d skidding cable and-to said drop section. p

6. in an overhead cablewaysystem, a head mast and tail mast, a main cable stretched between said masts, a cart havii a trolley section running on. sale. cable and adr section, lifting cable cured. to said .-.ves on said sections said. drop section being supported by sa al lifting cable and carrying a sheave fouaskidding cable, meansto operate said cable to raise and lower saiddrop. section in respect to said trolley section, a skidding cable running over said sheave on said drop section, and an outhaul cable also secured to said drop section.

7. In an overhead cable Way system, a head mast and a tail mast, a maincable stretched between said masts, a carriage having a trolley section running on said cable and a drop section, a lifting cable secured to said 10 tail mast and running over sheaves on said sections and on said head mast, said drop section being supported by said lifting cable, means to operate said cable to raise and lower said drop section in respect to said,

trolley section, a skidding cable carried by said'drop section, a slack pulling cable operatively connected to said skidding cable and to said drop section, and an outhaul cable also secured toisaid drop section.

JOSEPH H. DICKINSON. 

